DIY: How to change Transmission Oil (MTF)

[Danman281]

Tools required:

1. Special Funnel with tube tip OR Hand pump
2. 3/8 Ratchet
3. 17mm Socket
4. Cheater Bar/Breaker Bar (For more Tq)
5. ~3 Qt MTF (OEM, GM Synchro Mesh, etc)
6. New Crush washer (If Old)
7. Jacks and Jack Stands
8. Tools to remove tire
9. Drain Pan

Step 1:
Gather all your tools required



Step 2:
Loosen Driver side tire lug nuts. If you have the hand pump then you would not need to do this process. Taking off the tire makes the job a lot easier because you will have more room to use the funnel. Few people have attempted to fill the Transmission by using the funnel through the engine bay however the tube will not be long enough.

Step 3:
Jack the car up properly and set on Jack Stands. Take off spare tire and locate it in a safer location such as undernear the car in case jack stand failure occurs.


Step 4:
Once tire is out and car is lifted, you are ready to begin the process.
Go undernear the car and look up. You will see this.

Drain Bolt and Fill Bolt. First Loosen the Fill bolt (17 mm Socket), then loosen and remove the drain bolt while you have the drain pan underneath. The Drain bolt requires no socket.

Start Draining but becareful not to drop the bolt inside the pan. You may make a mess because of wind or splash. Remove Fill bolt to displace the missing air to drain faster. After all the old fluid has been drained, re-install the drain bolt.

Step 5:
Start Pouring in the MTF. There are two ways of doing this. One is by hand pump, and the other is by the funnel connected by a tube (Both can be purchased at autopart stores for around same price).
By using the funnel, hold one end where the driver side tire used to be, and the tube directed towards the fill hole. The rest is easy.
To use the pump, you will not need to take off the tire because few people have mentioned how they were able to pump MTF via underneath the car.
Fill the transmission to specification directed by the manual. An easy rule of thumbs to know if you have enough inside is to simply use your finger (yes... pun indeed intended) to check, OR fill until you spill.

Step 6:
Bolt everything back up with crush washer and TQ to specifications but you will not have to be exact.

On the drain plug, it is 29lb*ft, and on the fill plug it is 33lb*ft